Wine Sex, Beauty in the Bottle

The first chardonnay that offered me a taste to remember was this bejeweled beauty, one of Jess Jackson’s first chardonnays. This is a portrait of his 1983 Vintner’s Reserve, at two years. It showed a consistency and depth of microscopic design seen only in chardonnays that underwent malolactic fermentation. Everywhere I looked on the microscopic terrain, this pattern was evident.

A consistency in quality was also born out in the KJ chardonnays themselves. When traveling to teach in the backwaters of the US of A, I could usually find a KJ char on the menu to order. I knew it would be pleasurable to drink and I could afford it.

Jess Jackson’s first wine was released in 1983 – 1982 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. His intent was to make the best chardonnay in the United States and to popularize the idea of varietal wines. His 1983 Chardonnay won the first platinum award ever presented by the American Wine competition.

Take a look at this wine expression, what does it look like to you? A sea creature, a pile of crystals, snowflakes? A jewel, was the great Andre Tschelitcheff’s interpretation. Chardonnay is a more feminine wine (in mouth and microscopic design) when it undergoes malolactic fermentation. The KJ chardonnays undergo secondary malolactic fermentation, Grgich’s chardonnays do not. Is that reflected in their wine portraits?

Something to ruminate on with the next sip of wine – is it possible that the microscopic constellation of wine molecules offer telltale clues to its personality or character?

Cheers! BTW, all wine portraits on this blog and website are available as limited edition giclee reproductions.